– our president, my prognostications
I suppose this will forever be my own patriotic position: The land of my birth, where I’ve decided to live all my years (left) – Guyana – will always be a land to love – despite…
Despite and notwithstanding the bungling by its political managers which threaten to reduce it (further) to a socioeconomic mess and into an untidy, health-challenged home and even though I harbor strong doubts about them … about us … from time to time, I can’t see our Guyanese people allowing any professional political pretenders (PPP) to promote national chaos (PNC) forever. Our Guyana will survive, even prosper. Yes, I am aware that that prosperity has eluded us for decades – before and after political independence.
Who’s to blame? The answer is difficult to appreciate but, frankly speaking, all of us over eighteen must share that blame, that reason. Even in the case of despotic, ruthless, military regimes, people get the governments they deserve – and tolerate. Laws are for government and politicians too. They ought to should be, broken in the cause of the common good. But wait! I’m not really into that today. Rather I’m about why is Guyana still a home to love, despite?
I suspect – and I also know and verily believe – that those of us who decided to live our lives here, even though the options of leaving were/are always available, stay because of varied and disparate reasons.
From the geography of beauty and few natural disasters, to knowing you’re a resident-citizen of the land of your birth; that you can’t be stripped of that citizenship or be deported; knowing that if the political managers of our lives could be exported or made to become competent, fair-minded and decent, progress can attend our latent and active resources, our present and future – all that still kindles the hope our human spirit is capable of and makes us stay.
For me, frankly speaking, no matter how I yearn for the economic and advancement I could still have abroad, no matter how I admire my friends’ achievements and acquisitions elsewhere, I have a fierce pride which prevents me from becoming “a paper/documented citizen” of any other place.
In my mind, sometimes my soul, I can relate to people everywhere, in that sense becoming a citizen of the world. But home is where my heart and every other part of me will be – Guyana!
Finally on that score, as I watch the drug barons, the corrupt officials, lawless vendors and traders, inept municipalities, fake pastors, rapacious businessmen and the new rich paint a new picture of this land I love, I think of things that could be done to reform or eliminate them.
I see the long-nurtured institutions being tainted, and again I plan their cleansing.
Even violence is not an option for removing the blight. For violence begets violence and the poor, like me, suffers. We in 2011 won’t be ready for such revolts.
Even the ballot will hardly bring changes needed. And since God, for me, is difficult to access, I’ll tell you about my solution next time.
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Our president, from village to nation
Since we are told (assured?) that this is the last Christmas season with this president of our republic, I thought I’d pen a few observations with respect to his personality and presidency.
Whatever your view, as a person the young gentleman-politician has achieved! From the East Coast Demerara fishing village of Unity, he emerged. And like his villagers Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Colin Croft, he is now known, internationally. From PPP’s youth arm to a little teaching and studying economics in Russia, he worked with the PNC’s Haslyn Parris. Like lightning, he caught Cheddi Jagan’s eye, as junior finance minister and was soon anointed president by Cheddi’s widow. Meteoric! The PPP had thus made a female and a youth as presidents when others merely talked about doing so.
But then there is the other Bharrat! Not yet fifty, as he bows out in a few months, to me he comes off as intolerant to valid criticisms of his policies and methods. He sometimes comes off as disrespectful to knowledgeable seniors. He has submerged his own party in a flood of disagreements. He is too often petty and petulant, with many fearing his “vengeance”, so reminiscent of Forbes Burnham when that Kabaka decided to be vindictive.
I’ll attempt my own assessment, if I’m still around when Mr Jagdeo bows out completely. For now, I wonder what he feels about these issues relevant to his presidency this Christmas: would he not wish to continue to see his programmes to culmination? What about Guyana’s “status” as a narcotics trans-shipment port, under his watch? Has he any regard for failed local governance and Georgetown’s disgraceful state, under an inept municipality with its own levels of corruption? Is Mr President proud of old people’s pensions even as he and his opposition leader will receive millions per month in their retirement?
Enough for now. At a personal level, I can’t get a piece of my Guyana land, because Bharrat Jagdeo is Minister of Lands, Minister of Economics, Minister of Information and Minister of Defence.
That land goes to those who vote, or are already positioned. You have to hand it to the boy – Bharrat from Unity!
Prognostications 2011!
“Prog-nos-ti-ca-tion” – how I love the lyrical content of that word. It simply means prediction, foretelling of events.
Here are my profound prognostications for next year: (1) The AFC will not win the 2011 elections, but look for attempted mergers and coalitions. (2) The three major parties will suffer defections. (3) I won’t vote for a soul in this country. (4) Wikileaks US cables will reveal four of drug convict Roger Khan’s connections. (5) FITUG and the TUC will find more common ground. (6) The Ministry of Culture will spearhead long-term programmes to promote cultural expression and development but will endure criticism for its handling of sport. (7) Gecom will invite parties to observe its preparations for the elections – still expected. (8) The police commissioner will soon deicde if he’s staying on for the elections. (9) The LCDS will ‘slow down’ in 2011. (10) The President will become a father – by some means! What say you?
Ponder …
What will a new government do for sugar?
Trade unions! Buying clubs, development banks, transportation units think about the box!
Tomorrow the year for people of African Descent begins. How tangible will it be? What about the world’s other peoples, UN?
3b) Get registered for your ID today! Refusal could get you jailed next
month!
Coming next week: GAWU – facts, figures and GuySuCo.
Coming soon: Guyana’s popular entertainment – certain connections
Til next year
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